# Digital Backbone

**R-2A activity** of project ES3 — Blackhawk Product Improvement Program  
**Program element:** 0607136A — Blackhawk Product Improvement Program  
**Component:** U.S. Army · **Budget Activity:** 7  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0607136A/ES3/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0607136A

## Summary

This activity requests $19.9M in FY2027, 57% of project ES3, up 102% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2025–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** The Utility Helicopter Project Office (UHPO) will continue to work the development of the Scalable Digital Backbone with focus on the open standard hardware and software components supporting the modularity, portability, and commonality required to meet U.S. Army MOSA objectives. This effort will support the development of the Product Baseline System Model (PBSM), which includes the Software Requirements Specifications, Component Initial Capabilities Document (ICD), Component Interface Design Description (IDD), Software Design Description, Database Design Description, and Component Interface Requirements Specifications. The plan also includes the integration of Strategic Autonomous Flight Enabler (SAFE). Funding will continue to move the DBB closer to Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR) for the H-60M platform. The digital backbone effort is being accomplished in conjunction with the airframe structural enhancements in support of H-60 modernization.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY2026 to FY2027 Funding increased due the additional integration of SAFE. The continued development and integration efforts will lead to multiple Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), a System Requirements Review (SRR), System Functional Review (SFR), PDR and CDR.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** The Utility Helicopter Project Office (UHPO) will continue to work the development of the Scalable Digital Backbone with focus on the open standard hardware and software components supporting the modularity, portability, and commonality required to meet U.S. Army MOSA objectives. This effort will support the development of the Product Baseline System Model (PBSM), which includes the Software Requirements Specifications, Component Initial Capabilities Document (ICD), Component Interface Design Description (IDD), Software Design Description, Database Design Description, and Component Interface Requirements Specifications. Funding will continue to move the DBB closer to Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR) for the H-60M platform. The digital backbone effort is being accomplished in conjunction with the airframe structural enhancements in support of H-60 modernization.

**FY2025 accomplishments.** The Utility Helicopter Project Office (UHPO) will continue to work the development of the Scalable Digital Backbone with focus on the open standard hardware and software components supporting the modularity, portability, and commonality required to meet U.S. Army MOSA objectives. This effort will support the development of the Product Baseline System Model (PBSM), which includes the Software Requirements Specifications, Component Initial Capabilities Document (ICD), Component Interface Design Description (IDD), Software Design Description, Database Design Description, and Component Interface Requirements Specifications. Funding will continue to move the DBB closer to Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR) for the H-60M platform. The digital backbone effort is being accomplished in conjunction with the airframe structural enhancements in support of H-60 modernization and includes a sensitivity analysis to understand key drivers for modernization capabilities and integration with legacy components within the aircraft.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 5.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 9.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 19.9 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Other activities in project ES3

- [Airframe Enhancements For Launched Effects Development/NRE](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0607136A/ES3/a2) — FY2027 14.2
- Programmatic Support — FY2027 1.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0607136A project ES3 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*